Ross walked out of the museum with his paycheck. He had given this a lot of thought. Their lives were moving ahead and it was time.
Following graduation, Ross had asked Carol to move in with him. They found a lovely apartment in Brooklyn, not far from Manhattan by train. Carol was working as sales associate at Macy's and sending out teaching resumes. Ross had gotten a graduate fellowship at the Natural Museum of History.
Life seemed to be just moving along and he couldn't be happier. It was everything he had ever dreamed of, a beautiful girl, a great job, and their own place.
He made up his mind. He would do it soon. ..there was the one he wanted so he walked into the jewelry store.
Carol sat in the chair in the apartment. It was happening so fast. Here she was living with her boyfriend and everything should have been so comfortable for her. Something kept nagging at her, this just didn't feel right. All her life she was preparing for this, going to school, finding a man and getting married, then being a mother. Is this really what it was all about?
"Sweetie, I'm home are you off tonight?"Ross said as he opened the door. He walked over to the chair and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"Hope your hungry cause I brought dinner home." Carol got up from the chair and set the plates on the table in the kitchen, Then she lit a couple candles as Ross opened the carry out Chinese containers. He turned on the stereo for dinner music.
Later they laid in their bed. Ross started kissing her hair and nuzzling her neck. They were in such perfect sync when it came to lovemaking. He knew when to start and what she liked. Carol smiled , she had trained her man well. He put his mouth close to her skin and she could feel his hot breath on her soft skin. Then he would continue as she laid helplessly on the bed. Slowly their bodies would connect and he would please her. He would take her to ectasy and then back down again.
On Sunday, they would just lay in bed until late afternoon. She would read the Arts and Literature section and he would pour over the Science section. As the evening came, they would go out on their balcony and sit gazing at the lights of far away Manhattan.
Thanksgiving came and went and it was Christmas time. Carol put a small tree by the front window. Next to it was a menorah in honor of Ross' Jewish heritage. She had little time to dedicate to the holidays because of all the overtime she was getting at Macy's.
She was setting aside every little bit she could, so she could buy a very nice briefcase for Ross for Christmas. The minute she saw it, she knew it would be perfect for him for work. Along with it, she put aside eight little gifts for each of the nights of Hanukkah.
New York was still the place for lovers at Christmas. They would get a cup of coffee and look at the store displays in the windows. They would look at each other with a look that told the world they were young and in love.
Carol lit the candles of the menorah and plugged in the tree. She carefully placed her presents under the tree. The next thing she did was go to the bedroom and put on her new green velvet dress. Confidently she went to the kitchen and got two wine glasses and set them down on a table in the living room.
"Merry Christmas, darling, " Ross said as he came in the door. He was covered from head to toe with snow.
"Hey I just cleaned." Carol laughingly scorned.
"Alright Monica." he laughed. Ross took Carol's face in his still gloved hands as he kissed her passionately.
Carol broke the kiss, "I've got the brisket on, I hope your nana gave me the right recipe for the latkes cause they are cooling. And …she motioned over to the menorah.
"I see, someone is practicing to be the perfect little Jewish wife." he smiled.
"More presents?" he asked puzzled.
"Those are from my parents for us." Carol said shyly. "Shall we eat.?"
Following dinner, Carol and Ross had Hanukkah first, then each of them got a little more excited to see what the other one had gotten them. Carol handed her package to Ross first.
"It's too small for a car," he joked. Like a little boy, he shook the large package, then looked at it.
"Oh give me that the suspense is killing me." yelled Carol. She ripped off the paper to reveal a brown suede leather briefcase.
"Carol, oh my..this must have cost you a fortune…it's so beautiful." Ross gushed.
"Well, not with my employee discount, my boyfriend should have the best when he walks into that museum. Someday he will the head curator I can just picture it." Carol sweetly said.
Ross moved over, "My turn, now it doesn't come in that big of a box but I hope you will like it." He got up and switched off all the lights except for the tree and menorah lights. Carol was totally astonished when instead of sitting back down , he got on one knee.
"Carol, you are my sun and moon, you are the stars in the heaven. You are the one who completes me. I want to grow old with you and have lots and lots of little babies." Ross took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger, " Carol will you marry me?"
Tears came out of Carol's eyes as she grabbed Ross and began to kiss him passionately as the strains of Nat King Cole's A Christmas Song… came over the stereo…"Yes, I will."
although it's been said many times many ways merry christmas to you....
As the snow drifted on the streets of New York, and the bells chimed midnight… a new chapter had began..not just Carol now…but Carol and Ross.